Hinge-like device for caps or covers

ABSTRACT

Device for automatically placing a cap or cover on the upper open end of a jar or container. The cap is retained at an opening angle relative to the horizontal by a leaf spring.

United States Patent Svensson June 10, 1975 HINGE-LIKE DEVICE FOR CAPSOR [56] References Cited COVERS UNITED STATES PATENTS [76] Inventor:Harry Svensson, Loviselundsvagen l,O90,l38 3/1914 DeGrody 220/335 101,162 35 Stockholm, Sweden 2,707,064 4 1955 Castello 44 220 335 [22]Filed: May 1974 Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Hall [21] Ap No.: 466,396Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane, Swecker &

Mathis [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT May 3, I973Sweden 06l814/73 Davice for automatically p g a p or cover on the upperopen end of a jar or container. The cap is re- [52] US. Cl. 220/335tamed at an opening angle relative to the horizontal by Int. Cl 365d43/24 a leaf spring Field of Search 220/375 1 Claim, 1 Drawing FigureHINGE-LIKE DEVICE FOR CAPS OR COVERS The present invention relates to ahinge-like device, which makes it possible to set a cap, a cover or thelike in a desired angle relative to the horizontal plane.

Many products are provided with a protective cover or cap of variouskinds which must be opened to make the product accessible. Here it isdesirable to provide the cover/cap with some form of hinge which at thesame time forms a support for the cover/cap in one or several positions,so that said product is accessible with both hands. Usually the usualtype of hinges is used together with some kind of supporting pin for thecove rlcap, or alternatively specially manufactured friction hinges havebeen used. All of said constructions comprise several parts and aretherefore often expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hinge-like devicecomprising as small as possible a number of parts, but still can supportthe cover in a reliable way in a desired angle relative to thehorizontal plane. Thus, according to the invention, a vertical segmentis provided at the joint part of the cover, said segment having theshape of a quarter of a circle with the periphery directedforwards/downwards or downwards/backwards. The periphery surface isprovided with one or several recesses which, one after the other beinginfluenced by spring pressure, will keep the cover safely up at acertain opening angle relative to the horizontal plane. According to theinvention the cover can further be easily completely removed withoutthat the reliability of the adjustability of the cover is changed.

The advantages of the present invention will be more clearly revealed inthe following description and by the enclosed drawing. The drawing showsa cover in an inclined position relative to the horizontal plane, wherethe segment is directed forwards/downwards. in order to make the drawingas clear as possible only part of the cover is shown, as the rest of theform of the cover is not part of the invention.

As is shown in the drawing the supporting device is constructed as alever, and the force which neutralizes the weight of the cover and itsstriving to go back to the horizontal position from an opened positionis provided by a circular rubber member 3 and a leaf spring 2 whichtogether support the recesses of the segment. The primary point is thestrength of the force and the direction of the force towards a point Ain front of the rotation centre 4 of the cover.

The invention has the advantage that the construction can easily beadapted to different sizes and weights of cover. The diameter and thethickness respectively as well as the hardness of the rubber member can,like the radius of the segment, be varied. At very small forcesrequired, the leaf spring alone may be a sufii cient support for thecover. The friction member may also be replaced by a coil spring, itsforce being directed towards the point A.

The supporting device is located at the back part of the side of thecover, but may also be an extension of the cover. Especially at theproduction of covers of injection moulded plastic it is advantageous,considering both the costs and the design, to let the cover and thesegment of the supporting device be made of one part. The supportingdevice comprises a segment with the shape of a quarter of a full circleand with a thickness which is determined by the required stiffness ofthe seg ment, and being provided with one or several recesses in theperiphery. Furthermore, the supporting device comprises a spring, whichis located on the box or the like that the cover is intended to beattached to. The spring force is directed along the line A-Al, andhereby a lever is provided between the rotation centre of the cover andthe point A. When the cover is set in an inclined position, one of therecesses of the segment periphery will be supported by the spring in thepoint B. The spring force is so dimensioned that it will neutralize thestriving of the cover to go back to the horizontal position. Theinclination angle of the cover is determined by the direction of thespring force and the then used recess of the segment.

The recesses are in the described embodiment formed for a leaf spring,but can also have other shapes, for example the shape of a half circlein order to suit a spring loaded ball. The important thing is to use asegment and the lever principle thereby offered.

In certain cases it may be advantageous to use two supporting devices,for example when the radius of the segment must be limited due to smallspace.

What I claim is:

l. A hinge-like supporting device for a horizontally arranged cover orthe like, which is intended to be opened upwards around its back end,characterized by the fact, that a vertically located segment (i)substantially having the shape of a quarter of a complete circle andbeing attached to and extending downwards or alternatively backwardsfrom the cover at said back end in a plane which is perpendicular to therotation axis of the cover, and where the peripheral surface of thesegment is formed in steps with two or more recesses, which at themovement of the segment around the rotation centre (4) of the cover isin steps influenced by a spring force directed towards a point (A) infront of said rotation centre, so that the lever produced and thestrength of the spring force will neutralize the weight of the cover ateach step, whereby the cover will be retained at the opening anglerelative to the horizontal plane corresponding to the position on theperiphery of the segment of the recess (B) spring loaded at therespective moment.

1. A hinge-like supporting device for a horizontally arranged cover orthe like, which is intended to be opened upwards around its back end,characterized by the fact, that a vertically located segment (1)substantially having the shape of a quarter of a complete circle andbeing attached to and extending downwards or alternatively backwardsfrom the cover at said back end in a plane which is perpendicular to therotation axis of the cover, and where the peripheral surface of thesegment is formed in steps with two or more recesses, which at themovement of the segment around the rotation centre (4) of the cover isin steps influenced by a spring force directed towards a point (A) infront of said rotation centre, so that the lever produced and thestrength of the spring force will neutralize the weight of the cover ateach step, whereby the cover will be retained at the opening anglerelative to the horizontal plane corresponding to the position on theperiphery of the segment of the recess (B) spring loaded at therespective moment.